Causes of Cancer

Hereditory Factors

Dealing with Diagnosis

Telling Others

Supporting Someone with Cancer

Understanding Your Illness

Self Image

Caring for Yourself

Understanding your illness

Learning more about cancer and its treatment will help you and your family know what to expect. This may help reduce everyone’s fears.

Many people worry about treatment and whether it will cause side effects. Some people will have no side effects; others will experience a few. Many side effects are temporary but others are permanent. Nearly all can be managed or controlled.

Talking with doctors

When your doctor first tells you that you have cancer, it is obviously very stressful and you may not remember very much. It is difficult to take everything in, and you may need to ask the same question more than once. This is a common reaction to stress. Don’t be afraid to ask questions because you think you’re taking up the doctor’s time.

Before you see the doctor, it may help to write down your questions. This will make it easier to remember what you want to discuss.

Decide how much information you would like about your illness. Some people feel more in control of what is happening to them when they know all the facts. Others feel overwhelmed by too many details and want only an overview.

Let your doctor know how much or how little information you want. Doctors usually wait for clues from the person with cancer. They need to know what the patient wants to know and when. Whether you like it or not, it is usually up to you to take the first steps towards open communication with your doctor.

It’s hard to listen well and understand complex information when you’re anxious or afraid. To help you remember what your doctor says, follow these tips.

• Ask for an extra long appointment
• Take notes or use a tape recorder
• Have a friend or relative come with you. They can take part in the discussion, take notes or simply listen
• If you didn’t understand the answer, ask them to explain again. It’s a good idea to say something like, ‘If I’ve got that right, you’re saying…’ This gives the doctor the opportunity to explain anything you’ve misunderstood

Body image and sexulity...